A Closer Look at the Link Between Obesity and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect up to 8% of gestations and are a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity. To examine rising nationwide obesity as a causative factor, researchers used U.S. vital statistics from 2014 to 2017 in a retrospective cohort study of >14 million patients; in particular, they evaluated the relation between body-mass index (BMI) at delivery and rates of early- and late-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. BMI categories were defined as nonobese (BMI range, 18.5–29.9 kg/m²), class 1 obesity (30.0–34.9), class 2 obesity (35.0–39.9), and class 3 obesity (≥40.0). The primary outcome was delivery with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia) at <34…